Chesterfield budget proposal includes increased BPOL threshold
Chesterfield County Administrator Joe Casey presented his proposal for the county’s fiscal year 2022 budget last week.
The $806.8 million general fund features $344.7 million in local funding to the school district, as well as $226.8 million in capital improvements that include $19 million for sidewalk upgrades. The proposed general fund for FY22 is an increase of $84.9 million (11.7 percent) compared to the adopted FY21 budget.
The budget would increase the collection threshold for the business and occupation license (BPOL) tax, upping it to $400,000 from $300,000 effective July 1. In doing so, more than 6,400 small- and medium-sized businesses would be exempt from the tax, according to the county.
The budget features a level real estate tax rate of 95 cents per $100 of assessed value and includes a 2 percent mid-year raise for county employees.
It also would lay out a November 2022 bond referendum for $300 million in renovations to county middle schools and an additional $150 million for four new police stations ($32 million), replacement and renovation of four fire stations ($40 million) and $52 million for the replacement and renovation of four county libraries, among other projects.
The budget can be viewed here. A public hearing is scheduled for March 24. Budget adoption is anticipated April 7.
Schell Brothers gets OK for 669-unit development in Winterpock area
The Board of Supervisors approved a conditional use and rezoning application filed by Schell Brothers Richmond LLC that sets the stage for a 669-unit development off Bethia Road in the Matoaca District. Plans call for 307 single-family homes, 74 townhouse units and 288 apartments on about 249 acres. The historic Fuqua Farmhouse, outbuildings and cemetery on the property would be preserved.
Henrico County proposes $1.4 billion budget
Henrico County Manager John Vithoulkas presented a $1.4 billion budget proposal for fiscal year 2022. The proposal includes a $983.9 million general fund to support most governmental operations, representing a 2.2 percent increase over the budget that was initially proposed for FY21 and a 9.4 percent increase over the revised plan that was ultimately adopted.
Highlights of the proposed budget include:
• No change to the real estate tax rate of 87 cents per $100 of assessed value.
• A $707.5 million operating budget for Henrico County Public Schools (HCPS), a 10 percent increase over the current year.
• More than $224 million for capital projects, including the final projects planned as part of the 2016 bond referendum.
• $22.5 million in new funding from the Central Virginia Transportation Authority, supporting various road and sidewalk projects.
• $57.6 million for an employee-compensation plan that would reward longevity, provide market adjustments for teachers, police officers, firefighters and other public safety employees, and begin to increase the county’s minimum wage to $15 per hour.
The budget proposal is posted here. The board will begin reviewing the proposed budget during work sessions March 15-19. The meetings will be available for remote viewing via WebEx. All sessions are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except for the one set for 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 16. Details on the work sessions are available here.
Supervisors will hold a public hearing on the budget at 6 p.m. March 23. A vote to adopt the budget is scheduled for April 13.
Reopening date set for renovated Belmont Golf Course
Henrico County released a video showing renovations underway at Belmont Golf Course. Work on the $5 million project started last May and is targeted for completion this May. The First Tee of Greater Richmond is upgrading the course through a lease with the county and will operate the facility when it reopens.
Glenwood Golf Course, Twin Hickory condo proposals deferred again
At its meeting last week, the Henrico County Planning Commission deferred consideration of Godsey Properties’ proposal to develop Glenwood Golf Course as two subdivisions totaling 320 homes. The case, which was deferred from the commission’s February meeting, is now scheduled to be heard April 15.
Also deferred to the April meeting was HHHunt’s request to increase the number of condos for its “The Corner at Twin Hickory” development from 90 to 105. The project received an initial rezoning recommendation last fall for an office building and up to 90 condos on nearly 10 acres in the northeast corner of Pouncey Tract Road and Twin Hickory Lake Drive.
The commission approved a development plan from Timmons Group for phase two of the Lakewood Manor Baptist retirement community at Lauderdale Drive at and John Rolfe Parkway. It voted in support of a proposal from Hundred Acre Woods Inc. for a zero-lot-line residential development on a 33-acre tract at the terminus of Opaca Lane near Wyndham Forest.
The commission also supported a provisional-use permit request from Richard Souter with WVS Cos. to reduce the required amount of commercial square footage in Rocketts Landing from 18 percent to 8 percent. The original zoning allowed the county to reduce the required commercial square footage below 25 percent with a conditional-use permit.
Salomonsky secures approval for proposed Church Road subdivision
At its meeting last week, the Henrico Board of Supervisors approved a rezoning request from developer Louis Salomonsky for a subdivision with nine zero-lot-line homes on nearly 3 acres on the south line of Church Road west of Guyana Drive. The approval went against the recommendation of the Planning Commission, which had given the project a thumbs-down. Planning staff also did not support the rezoning.
Highland Park apartments, Arthur Ashe Boulevard rezoning approved
At its regular meeting last week, the Richmond City Council awarded a special-use permit to Commonwealth Catholic Charities to develop 56 income-based apartments on about 3.25 acres at 1031 and 1101 Fourqurean Lane near Highland Park.
The council also approved Thalhimer Realty Partners’ request to rezone the Wesco Distribution site at 2902 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd. from heavy industrial use to TOD-1 Transit-Oriented Nodal District for a multi-story development.
Hickory Grove development voted down in Hanover
Hanover County supervisors voted last week to reject the proposed Hickory Grove development that would have been located at the intersection of East Patrick Henry and Providence Church roads. The project from Rogers-Chenault Inc. would have allowed construction of 100 age-restricted townhomes and commercial space on about 51 acres near the Hickory Hill subdivision.
Two age-restricted townhome developments on Hanover planning agenda
The Hanover County Planning Commission is scheduled to meet March 18. Full agenda here.
On the agenda is a request by George and Kay Fearnow to rezone about 16 acres on the east side of Shady Grove Road about 350 feet south of its intersection with Tipping House Drive to tee up 49 age-restricted townhomes.
A similar project, 49 age-restricted townhomes, is proposed by Edward and Carolyn Tyler on about 8 acres on the east line of Shady Grove Road near its intersection with Shady Knoll Lane.
Also on tap is a rezoning request by Roxanne S. and Lazaro G. Perdomo, et al. to develop 64 single-family lots on about 36 acres north of Old Keeton Road at its intersection with Washington Highway in the South Anna District. About 4 acres of the property under consideration would be rezoned to M-2 light industrial with conditions.
Hanover County launches ‘Here in Hanover’ app
Coinciding with Hanover County’s 300th birthday recognition, Hanover County Economic Development created and launched an app called “Here in Hanover, VA” that includes info about county entertainment venues, parks, restaurants, historic sites and local businesses. The free app can be added to a desktop or mobile device from the department’s website.
Chesterfield budget proposal includes increased BPOL threshold
Chesterfield County Administrator Joe Casey presented his proposal for the county’s fiscal year 2022 budget last week.
The $806.8 million general fund features $344.7 million in local funding to the school district, as well as $226.8 million in capital improvements that include $19 million for sidewalk upgrades. The proposed general fund for FY22 is an increase of $84.9 million (11.7 percent) compared to the adopted FY21 budget.
The budget would increase the collection threshold for the business and occupation license (BPOL) tax, upping it to $400,000 from $300,000 effective July 1. In doing so, more than 6,400 small- and medium-sized businesses would be exempt from the tax, according to the county.
The budget features a level real estate tax rate of 95 cents per $100 of assessed value and includes a 2 percent mid-year raise for county employees.
It also would lay out a November 2022 bond referendum for $300 million in renovations to county middle schools and an additional $150 million for four new police stations ($32 million), replacement and renovation of four fire stations ($40 million) and $52 million for the replacement and renovation of four county libraries, among other projects.
The budget can be viewed here. A public hearing is scheduled for March 24. Budget adoption is anticipated April 7.
Schell Brothers gets OK for 669-unit development in Winterpock area
The Board of Supervisors approved a conditional use and rezoning application filed by Schell Brothers Richmond LLC that sets the stage for a 669-unit development off Bethia Road in the Matoaca District. Plans call for 307 single-family homes, 74 townhouse units and 288 apartments on about 249 acres. The historic Fuqua Farmhouse, outbuildings and cemetery on the property would be preserved.
Henrico County proposes $1.4 billion budget
Henrico County Manager John Vithoulkas presented a $1.4 billion budget proposal for fiscal year 2022. The proposal includes a $983.9 million general fund to support most governmental operations, representing a 2.2 percent increase over the budget that was initially proposed for FY21 and a 9.4 percent increase over the revised plan that was ultimately adopted.
Highlights of the proposed budget include:
• No change to the real estate tax rate of 87 cents per $100 of assessed value.
• A $707.5 million operating budget for Henrico County Public Schools (HCPS), a 10 percent increase over the current year.
• More than $224 million for capital projects, including the final projects planned as part of the 2016 bond referendum.
• $22.5 million in new funding from the Central Virginia Transportation Authority, supporting various road and sidewalk projects.
• $57.6 million for an employee-compensation plan that would reward longevity, provide market adjustments for teachers, police officers, firefighters and other public safety employees, and begin to increase the county’s minimum wage to $15 per hour.
The budget proposal is posted here. The board will begin reviewing the proposed budget during work sessions March 15-19. The meetings will be available for remote viewing via WebEx. All sessions are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except for the one set for 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 16. Details on the work sessions are available here.
Supervisors will hold a public hearing on the budget at 6 p.m. March 23. A vote to adopt the budget is scheduled for April 13.
Reopening date set for renovated Belmont Golf Course
Henrico County released a video showing renovations underway at Belmont Golf Course. Work on the $5 million project started last May and is targeted for completion this May. The First Tee of Greater Richmond is upgrading the course through a lease with the county and will operate the facility when it reopens.
Glenwood Golf Course, Twin Hickory condo proposals deferred again
At its meeting last week, the Henrico County Planning Commission deferred consideration of Godsey Properties’ proposal to develop Glenwood Golf Course as two subdivisions totaling 320 homes. The case, which was deferred from the commission’s February meeting, is now scheduled to be heard April 15.
Also deferred to the April meeting was HHHunt’s request to increase the number of condos for its “The Corner at Twin Hickory” development from 90 to 105. The project received an initial rezoning recommendation last fall for an office building and up to 90 condos on nearly 10 acres in the northeast corner of Pouncey Tract Road and Twin Hickory Lake Drive.
The commission approved a development plan from Timmons Group for phase two of the Lakewood Manor Baptist retirement community at Lauderdale Drive at and John Rolfe Parkway. It voted in support of a proposal from Hundred Acre Woods Inc. for a zero-lot-line residential development on a 33-acre tract at the terminus of Opaca Lane near Wyndham Forest.
The commission also supported a provisional-use permit request from Richard Souter with WVS Cos. to reduce the required amount of commercial square footage in Rocketts Landing from 18 percent to 8 percent. The original zoning allowed the county to reduce the required commercial square footage below 25 percent with a conditional-use permit.
Salomonsky secures approval for proposed Church Road subdivision
At its meeting last week, the Henrico Board of Supervisors approved a rezoning request from developer Louis Salomonsky for a subdivision with nine zero-lot-line homes on nearly 3 acres on the south line of Church Road west of Guyana Drive. The approval went against the recommendation of the Planning Commission, which had given the project a thumbs-down. Planning staff also did not support the rezoning.
Highland Park apartments, Arthur Ashe Boulevard rezoning approved
At its regular meeting last week, the Richmond City Council awarded a special-use permit to Commonwealth Catholic Charities to develop 56 income-based apartments on about 3.25 acres at 1031 and 1101 Fourqurean Lane near Highland Park.
The council also approved Thalhimer Realty Partners’ request to rezone the Wesco Distribution site at 2902 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd. from heavy industrial use to TOD-1 Transit-Oriented Nodal District for a multi-story development.
Hickory Grove development voted down in Hanover
Hanover County supervisors voted last week to reject the proposed Hickory Grove development that would have been located at the intersection of East Patrick Henry and Providence Church roads. The project from Rogers-Chenault Inc. would have allowed construction of 100 age-restricted townhomes and commercial space on about 51 acres near the Hickory Hill subdivision.
Two age-restricted townhome developments on Hanover planning agenda
The Hanover County Planning Commission is scheduled to meet March 18. Full agenda here.
On the agenda is a request by George and Kay Fearnow to rezone about 16 acres on the east side of Shady Grove Road about 350 feet south of its intersection with Tipping House Drive to tee up 49 age-restricted townhomes.
A similar project, 49 age-restricted townhomes, is proposed by Edward and Carolyn Tyler on about 8 acres on the east line of Shady Grove Road near its intersection with Shady Knoll Lane.
Also on tap is a rezoning request by Roxanne S. and Lazaro G. Perdomo, et al. to develop 64 single-family lots on about 36 acres north of Old Keeton Road at its intersection with Washington Highway in the South Anna District. About 4 acres of the property under consideration would be rezoned to M-2 light industrial with conditions.
Hanover County launches ‘Here in Hanover’ app
Coinciding with Hanover County’s 300th birthday recognition, Hanover County Economic Development created and launched an app called “Here in Hanover, VA” that includes info about county entertainment venues, parks, restaurants, historic sites and local businesses. The free app can be added to a desktop or mobile device from the department’s website.